ATHINA KAMARUDIN IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING, PROVING THAT A GIRL REALLY CAN HAVE IT ALL—AND THEN SOME. IN OUR APRIL COVER EXCLUSIVE, THE 26-YEAR-OLD DELVES INTO SELF-LOVE, INCLUSIVITY IN FASHION AND FINDING HERSELF ONLINE AND OFFLINE.

If one thing rings true about Athina Kamarudin, it’s that she’s locked in. When we catch up with the model, she’s perched on the makeup chair. We’ve just wrapped our first shot of the day, and our makeup artist is preening huge clumps of lash glue off of her left eye (you’ll understand it when you see it). Somehow, she’s entirely unbothered. It’s clear that she feels right at home, and so we start our interview off with a simple question: Why modelling?

“I’ve just always known I am beautiful,” Athina states, deadpan. There’s a pause before a grin creeps over her features, and she giggles. Beneath the humour, though, lies something more—a quiet confidence shaped by years of perseverance.

She gathers herself before answering seriously this time. “No, I have just always enjoyed being in front of the camera. Growing up, I would always take my grandparents' phones to take photos of myself, and then I'd make them everyone's phone wallpaper. Obviously, because they are my grandparents, they would tell me I should be a model, and I guess I took that to heart.”

Athina’s story has been one of constant evolution. Every stage, whether on ice or in couture, has led her here, carving a path that’s as multifaceted as she is. Today, she’s making her mark on the Malaysian fashion industry, pushing for more inclusivity while embracing her unique, unfiltered voice.

THE EARLY YEARS

As is true for many women, Barbie was the blueprint for Athina. She’s a woman of taste—her favourite movie as a three-year-old was Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses, and it’s that very film that had initially inspired her to take dance lessons. “I remember telling my mom that I wanted to be her when I grew up,” she recalls. “So, she signed me up at a ballet academy in our neighborhood and I never looked back.”

From there, Athina would continue to indulge every passion that would ignite in her. By the time she was in high school, she was a full-time cheerleader, a national figure skater, and had just begun to discover a new interest in contemporary dance. “I’ve really done it all,” she laughs.

She had originally taken up dance lessons to improve her performance on the ice as advised by her skating coach, but she found a deepened love for the art instead. Soon enough, she was exploring myriad styles, including traditional folk dance.

Once she graduated, Athina began travelling the world to compete professionally, representing Malaysia in ballet, folk, and contemporary dance competitions. But, eventually, she found herself at a crossroads. “I wanted to go and study psychology, but my mum convinced me to pursue dance instead. She told me, ‘You’ve wanted to dance your whole life. Why are you changing your mind now?’ And she was right.”

Three years on, armed with a diploma in dance from the Lasalle College of the Arts Singapore, Athina returned to Malaysia with high hopes—and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With the country’s arts sector effectively shut down and little opportunity for creatives available, she turned to the only outlet that made sense: social media. Her growing platform is what set her up to officially pivot into modelling, and eventually, it landed her a big break on Alia Bastamam’s 2022 Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) runway.

Three years have passed since her runway debut, and it’s safe to say that the multi-hyphenate has stayed the course on her rise and rise. In fact, things just keep picking up. “I’ve worked so much more this year than I ever have before. Somehow, though, I am not yet burnt out. It’s great!” she beams.

That said, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Being a creator—especially a female and Muslim creator in Malaysia—comes with many drawbacks, whether it’s the intense public scrutiny, the pressure to stay relevant, or the inescapable resentment for peers who grow faster or get further than you. “There was a point in my career where I hated being an influencer,” she reflects. “But eventually, you realise that this job gives you so much freedom. To me, it’s like, ‘How are you complaining when it’s 3pm on a Tuesday and we’re in a mall?’”

GROWING UP

“I really do enjoy it now,” she continues. “I love connecting with people. I love having people get to know the real, authentic me. I think not hiding behind a social media personality is what makes me love it even more. Of course, there are good days and there are bad days, but it's like that in every job.”

There’s no denying that her position as an influencer comes with a lot of perks. However, the one privilege that matters most to Athina is that of time. “I've lost a lot of family members recently, so being able to spend a lot more time with the people I love who are still with me now is the biggest privilege and honour,” she explains. “I’m very grateful for the job I have today.”

Athina may be one of the most recognisable faces on the scene right now, but it wasn’t easy stepping into the spotlight. For the most part, the fashion industry is more interested in ticking boxes than they are in genuine, meaningful representation.

True enough, every major fashion event in KL is plagued with the same criticisms year on year, and most prevalent of all is that brands generally seem to push for just one type of look to sell their stock: thin, tall, and white. At best, diverse bodies are tokenised, and at worst, they are excluded entirely. This rings true on a global scale as Fashion Week runways return to the status quo and the movement for diversity is pushed back to the sidelines.

BREAKING THE MOULD

“I’ve always been taller and bigger than everybody else in my group, whether it’s in athletics, dancing, cheerleading, or figure skating. But I don’t consider myself to be plus-sized,” Athina shares. Across the fashion industry, there is no standardised definition for “plus-size”. 15 years ago, the phrase could have described any body bigger than a size 0.

Today, with vanity sizing becoming more commonplace and new categories like “petite”, “mid-sized”, and “curvy” popping up, the lines are even more blurred. “I try my best not to label or categorise myself. There are actual plus-sized models like Precious Lee who are slaying the runway, and I don’t want to take that category away from those who deserve it.”

“I would like to see more inclusivity beyond just body size—it's not just about white models or tall models,” she articulates. “Beauty is subjective, and the industry needs to start reflecting the beautiful diversity of the world.”

Ultimately, the modelling industry can be unforgiving, but Athina makes it clear that she’s not navigating it alone: “I’ve made good friends while working, and we share this genuine love for one another. We're not here to steal each other’s spotlight—we're only here to elevate each other. We are all in it together, and we will make space for each other.”

When posting on social media, it’s easy to forget that you’re connecting with, well, people. At some point, likes and followers start to become numbers as opposed to human beings. It’s easy to lose yourself in the void and forget that your words and actions can have an effect.

“When I started posting, I had no idea who was watching me. But one special moment in particular helped me realise that I can have an impact on others,” Athina muses. “It sounds a little basic, but a follower once reached out to me and told me that she had never worn jeans until she saw me wearing them. She didn’t think jeans could look good on bigger girls until then. It was a small comment that honestly had me confused at the time, but when I thought about it more, it made me realise my influence.”

“It's this idea that, being in whatever body you're in, you can still feel comfortable and be fashionable at the same time. Sometimes the narrative is that, when you're a little bit bigger, you end up feeling bad because clothes don't fit you well,” she continues. “But it's really about finding the right silhouettes and sizes for your body. I want to use my platform to show that you don’t have to fit in to love yourself, and you deserve to feel confident in your own body.”

MODEL BEHAVIOUR

Unfortunately, connecting with followers as a public figure is a double-edged sword, and not every interaction is positive. “Thankfully, I haven't had any experiences that have broken my spirit or hurt me in ways that I couldn’t come back from. But, if I were to be very honest, I do cry about it sometimes.”

“But I've learned that most of the time, hateful people are just projecting their own insecurities onto you. You have to just take that and move on,” she asserts. “I think having a supportive system around you also helps a lot. Sometimes when I'm in my head too much, I’ll go to my mum and my boyfriend, who remind me that the Athina in my head does not actually exist. They’ll keep reminding me until I believe it, too.”

With that mindset, Athina continues to thrive, charting her own course in an industry that can be both rewarding and ruthless.

At this point, the 26-year-old has pretty much done it all, but she’s still got a few maybes up her sleeve. She’s already conquered the local industry and laid down roots in Jakarta—naturally, world domination is next on the agenda. “I’ve been thinking about Dubai lately,” she reveals. “I worked with a photographer from there, and he said I might have a market. It sounds exciting—I want to challenge myself, and Dubai could be the perfect next step.”

Beyond modelling, Athina’s also looking to broaden her horizons. “I actually really love singing and acting, too, so maybe that’s something I’ll explore,” she muses. “Musical theatre is the one thing I haven’t tried yet. Who knows—maybe I’ll give it a year or two and see where it takes me. I’ve already done so much I never imagined, so why not keep going?”

With her unstoppable drive, magnetic energy, and determination to defy, there’s no telling where Athina will end up—but one thing’s for sure: wherever she goes, she’ll be booked and busy.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE